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California State University-Monterey Bay

CSUMB

Seaside, California 93955-8001

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeSuburbanPublic

Known for psychology — excellent value

California State University-Monterey Bay is a public institution in Seaside with particular strength in psychology and business.

A mid-sized campus of 5.8K undergraduates with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

63% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $59,247 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $14,487.

Established
1994
Mascot
Monte Rey Otter
Type
Public university
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

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95%Acceptance
—SAT Avg
5,811Students
16:1Student:Faculty
63%Grad Rate
$59,247Earnings 10yr
$14,487Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

California State University-Monterey Bay Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate94.8%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

94.8%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,437
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,317
Room & Board$16,413
Books & Supplies$864
Total Cost of Attendance$26,017
Average Net Price$14,487
Median Debt at Graduation$12,750
Monthly Payment (10yr)$135

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$9,654
$30–48K$11,487
$48–75K$13,868
$75–110K$17,745
$110K+$23,874

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

68.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$11,000

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

42

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

10

Burglary

2

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

3

Motor Vehicle Theft

5

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

12

Drug Arrests

9

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (39)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

79%

Negative
  • •79% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
5,811
Gender Split
59% / 41%
Women / Men
First Generation
52%
Pell Grant Recipients
43%

Race & Ethnicity

White 27%
Black 3%
Hispanic 54%
Asian 6%
Two+ 5%
Int'l 2%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate63.2%
Freshman Retention79.1%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$48,648
10 Years$59,247

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#4
↑1
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Otters

Water poloGolf championships

History & Fun Facts

  • •History CSUMB was founded in 1994 with a student enrollment of 654 students.
  • •As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had 6,276 undergraduate students, 595 graduate students and 186 full-time faculty members.
  • •The president is Vanya Quiñones, who was appointed in August 2022.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

SJC San Jose50 mi
SFO San Francisco74 mi
SMF Sacramento142 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2693 mi · ~77h 48m drive
New York, NY2561 mi · ~73h 59m drive
Hartford, CT2618 mi · ~75h 38m drive
Providence, RI2681 mi · ~77h 27m drive
Albany, NY2554 mi · ~73h 47m drive
Syracuse, NY2431 mi · ~70h 14m drive
Rochester, NY2357 mi · ~68h 5m drive
Buffalo, NY2294 mi · ~66h 16m drive
Philadelphia, PA2510 mi · ~72h 31m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2253 mi · ~65h 5m drive
Harrisburg, PA2417 mi · ~69h 49m drive
Newark, NJ2552 mi · ~73h 43m drive
Washington, DC2425 mi · ~70h 3m drive
Baltimore, MD2442 mi · ~70h 33m drive
Atlanta, GA2108 mi · ~60h 54m drive
Charlotte, NC2276 mi · ~65h 45m drive
Raleigh, NC2386 mi · ~68h 56m drive
Miami, FL2549 mi · ~73h 38m drive
Orlando, FL2400 mi · ~69h 20m drive
Tampa, FL2357 mi · ~68h 5m drive
Nashville, TN1936 mi · ~55h 56m drive
New Orleans, LA1880 mi · ~54h 19m drive
Richmond, VA2422 mi · ~69h 58m drive
Chicago, IL1850 mi · ~53h 27m drive
Detroit, MI2085 mi · ~60h 14m drive
Minneapolis, MN1589 mi · ~45h 54m drive
St. Louis, MO1726 mi · ~49h 52m drive
Kansas City, MO1488 mi · ~42h 59m drive
Indianapolis, IN1934 mi · ~55h 52m drive
Columbus, OH2099 mi · ~60h 38m drive
Cleveland, OH2157 mi · ~62h 19m drive
Milwaukee, WI1838 mi · ~53h 6m drive
Dallas, TX1441 mi · ~41h 38m drive
Houston, TX1594 mi · ~46h 3m drive
Austin, TX1450 mi · ~41h 53m drive
San Antonio, TX1435 mi · ~41h 27m drive
Los Angeles, CA269 mi · ~7h 46m drive
San Francisco, CA85 mi · ~2h 27m drive
San Diego, CA378 mi · ~10h 55m drive
Seattle, WA757 mi · ~21h 52m drive
Portland, OR614 mi · ~17h 44m drive
Denver, CO936 mi · ~27h 2m drive
Phoenix, AZ592 mi · ~17h 6m drive
Salt Lake City, UT604 mi · ~17h 27m drive
Honolulu, HI2405 mi · ~69h 29m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

San Jose (SJC)50 miles
Rental car
75 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
100 min$60-100
San Francisco (SFO)74 miles
Rental car
111 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
148 min$89-148

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California State University-Monterey Bay — v2 Preview — TourStack